Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi could be on the move this summer, just 12 months after agreeing a new long-term contract at Leicester City. The Foxes, whose relegation from the Premier League was recently confirmed, are set for a major transitional period in the close season.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was highly unlikely to be retained for the 2025/26 EFL Championship season. Meanwhile, the Foxes are also expected to face issues surrounding their Profit & Sustainability measures and could start next term with a points deduction as a result.
Leicester’s season is ending in limp fashion
With relegation confirmed despite having five league games still to play, the Foxes are certain to be heavy underdogs in their remaining fixtures. One of the leading operators for placing a sports bet online licensed in Nigeria has had City priced as long as +500 to beat Wolves and odds-against (+125) to beat bottom club Southampton.
With all of this in mind, it’s possible that Leicester might capitalize on some of their higher-profile assets. Wilfred Ndidi is certainly one of those. The 28-year-old, who has featured 24 times in this year’s Premier League, still has two years remaining on his new deal. With Ndidi likely to be one of the club’s highest earners, he could be moved on this summer.
Could Ndidi make the move to Turkey or the Middle East?
Turkish Süper Lig side, Besiktas, have been long-time admirers of Ndidi. They tried to lure him to Turkey last summer and failed, with Ndidi speaking of unfinished business in the Premier League with Leicester. However, now that relegation to the second tier is confirmed, he may decide the time is right to start a new chapter.
Fresh reports from local media confirm the club’s intention to bring him to Turkey in the close season. Perhaps the biggest issue for a club like Besiktas – and any other club in the Turkish Super Lig – is stumping up a transfer fee that Leicester would find agreeable. According to Transfermarkt, Ndidi is still likely to have a market value in the region of €18 million.
Although this is a fraction of the €6 0million the same site said Ndidi was worth in 2021, it’s still likely to be too much for Besiktas to find. That’s before you factor in his wages, which are likely to be north of €60,000 a week. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that a newly promoted Premier League club may show up for him, with his athleticism and physicality a major boon for any team new to the EPL.
Alternatively, Ndidi may consider advances from the Saudi Pro League. This is one league where multiple clubs could not only afford his transfer fee but also offer him a salary commensurate with his Premier League experience.
There’s no doubt that Ndidi’s eight years with Leicester have been fruitful. He was a key part of the team when the Foxes won the 2021 FA Cup, followed by the Community Shield. He was signed 12 months after Leicester’s historic Premier League title win, but has played a major role in their subsequent European campaigns and was the long-term replacement for N’Golo Kante.
